UNIVERSITY   OF   CALIFORNIA       AGRICULTURAL    EXPERIMENT    STATION 
COLLEGE    OF    AGRICULTURE  benj.  ide  wheeler,  president 

___.^..    _  THOMAS    FORSYTH    HUNT.    Dean  AN  D   Dl  R  ECTO  R 

BERKELEY 

CIRCULAR  No.  93 
(March,  1913) 

BOYS'  AND  GIRLS'  CLUB  CONTEST  NO.  3 

CLASS  C-FOR  BOYS  AND  GIRLS 


BEAN    GROWING   CONTEST 

^  -  F.  L.  Griffin 

California  is  famous  for  the  production  of  dried  beans,  the  farm  value  of  the 
crop  in  an  average  season  amounting  to  nearly  $10,000,000,  The  very  favorable 
climatic  conditions  enjoyed  by  a  narrow  strip  of  the  southern  California  coast, 
ranging  from  San  Luis  Obispo  to  San  Diego  County,  gives  this  State  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  the  greatest  Lima  bean  growing  country  in  the  world.  In  the 
interior  of  these  coast  counties  as  well  as  up  and  down  the  great  Sacramento 
and  San  Joaquin  valleys,  Limas  cannot  be  grown  commercially,  but  other 
varieties  of  beans  thrive  and  are  produced  on  an  extensive  scale,  over  one 
million  sacks  being  harvested  in  some  years. 

It  behooves  every  loyal  Californian,  therefore,  to  have  an  intelligent  under- 
standing and  appreciation  of  the  importance  of  this  great  food  producing 
plant.  It  is  befitting,  also,  that  every  boy  and  girl  studying  agriculture  should 
take  an  active  interest  in  bean  production  and  improvement.  It  is  the  purpose 
of  this  circular  to  suggest  a  method  for  the  systematic  study  of  bean  culture 
and  to  give  a  few  brief  directions  for  growing  the  crop. 

Why  Contests  Will  Help.  Most  boys  and  girls,  like  grown-ups,  can  do  better 
work  when  they  are  matching  their  knowledge  or  skill  against  that  of  others. 
To  enter  a  contest  at  once  places  a  contestant  on  his  mettle  and,  as  in  athletic 
events,  he  strives  his  utmost  to  win  just  for  the  fun  of  winning.  The  fact  that 
prizes  are  offered  will  be  only  an  additional  incentive,  tending  to  make  the 
contest  more  interesting  and  profitable. 

Because  of  the  natural  love  of  competition  that  exists  among  boys  and  girls, 
those  who  attend  school  in  bean  growing  districts  are  encouraged  to  engage 
in  a  friendly  contest  to  see  who  can  grow  the  most  productive  bean  vine.  This 
competitive  work  is  of  such  a  nature  that  those  living  in  the  city  are  on  an 
equal  footing  with  those  attending  a  country  school. 

The  students  taking  part  in  these  bean  growing  contests  will  have  the 
opportunity  to  win  prizes  for  themselves  and  bring  honor  to  their  schools  and 
communities.  What  is  more  important,  through  their  study  and  practice  of  the 
best  cultural  and  plant  improvement  methods  necessary  to  grow  prize-winning 
beans,  they  will  gain  valuable  information  concerning  the  science  of  soils  and 
plant  growth  that  can  be  applied  to  other  crops  as  well. 

Organization  Needed.  Cooperation  among  men  and  women  in  every  pursuit 
and  occupation  of  life  is  the  most  encouraging  movement  of  recent  times  and  it 
is  destined  to  be  the  most  important  factor  in  the  development  of  a  better  and 
more  efficient  social  and  industrial  life.  Organized  effort  focuses  the  attention 
upon  the  task  at  hand,  stimulates  a  desire  for  knowledge  and  inculcates  the 
study  habit.  Club  work  among  boys  and  girls  is  proving  just  as  effective  as 
the  organized  efforts  of  adults  in  promoting  a  wider  and  better  knowledge  of 
the  art  and  science  of  agriculture. 


The  school  affords  an  ideal  place  for  all  club  and  contest  work  to  center  and 
it  is  recommended  that  whenever  five  or  more  sttidents  in  a  school  desire  to 
enter  a  bean  growing  contest  they  organize  a  club  with  that  end  in  view.  It 
will  not  be  necessary,  however,  for  anyone  to  join  a  club  in  order  to  qualify  in 
a  contest.  The  formation  of  clubs  is  advised  because  numbers  lend  enthusiasm 
and  cooperation  engenders  success. 

Nature  of  the  Contest.  The  Bean  Growing  Contest  will  be  in  two  divisions 
in  order  to  give  every  boy  and  girl  a  better  chance  to  win  a  prize.  In  the 
first  division,  the  contest  will  be  between  the  members  of  each  school  or  com- 
munity club  and  the  prize  winners  in  each  local  contest  will  again  compete 
with  the  winners  in  the  other  club  contests  throughout  the  city  or  county.  The 
general  or  county  competitive  exhibition,  forming  the  second  division  of  the 
contest,  should  be  held  in  connection  with  the  county  or  district  agricultural 
fair  whenever  possible  or  a  special  school  fair  or  exhibition  may  be  organized 
for  this  purpose. 

The  character  and  value  of  the  awards  to  be  given  in  each  instance  will  be 
determined  by  the  advisory  committee  in  charge  of  the  district  or  local  clubs 
and  by  the  city  or  county  superintendents  of  schools,  or  a  committee  designated 
by  them,  in  case  of  the  general  contest. 

Contest  Prises.  Several  awards,  in  cash  or  its  equivalent,  ranging  in  value 
from  first  to  fifth  prize,  will  be  given  in  each  contest  to  the  boys  or  girls  who  have 
grown,  selected  and  exhibited  the  heaviest  yielding  bean  vine.  The  prizes  will 
be  procured  and  awarded  by  the  committee  in  charge  of  the  respective  con- 
tests. When  two  or  more  varieties  are  entered  in  a  county  contest  there  should 
be  as  many  classes  as  varieties  and  approximate  prizes  should  be  offered  in  each. 

Every  contestant,  whether  winning  a  prize  or  not,  who  faithfully  complies 
with  all  of  the  contest  regulations,  will  receive,  as  special  recognition  of  his  or 
her  praiseworthy  work,  a  Certificate  of  Merit,  signed  by  the  Dean,  College  of 
Agriculture,  University  of  California. 

In  the  city  or  county  contest,  a  special  prize  in  the  form  of  a  cup,  medal 
or  banner,  will  be  awarded  that  school,  district,  or  community  whose  repre- 
sentatives make  the  most  favorable  showing. 

Contest  Eegulations.  1.  Boys  or  girls,  eighteen  years  of  age  or  younger, 
who  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the  contest,  may  qualify  and  become  eligible 
for  the  awards. 

2.  Each  contestant  shall  actually  grow  at  least  twenty-five  hills  of  Lima 
beans  (the  pole  type),  or  one  hundred  hills  of  the  white,  pink,  black-eye,  or 
other  bush  varieties.  Every  variety  grown  should  be  handled  under  field  culture 
conditions  so  far  as  possible.  (For  instance,  the  running  type  of  Lima  will  not 
be  poled.) 

3.  Besides  performing  all  the  cultural  operations  incident  to  bean  growing 
(save  those  tasks  beyond  the  strength  of  boys  and  girls)  contestants  shall  select 
and  exhibit  the  one  bean  vine  out  of  all  those  grown  on  their  respective  plots, 
which  in  their  judgment,  has  produced  the  largest  number  of  perfect  beans. 

4.  A  crop  record  or  note  book,  describing  all  of  the  work  done,  from  the 
preparation  of  the  seed-bed  to  the  harvesting  of  the  crop,  shall  be  prepared  by 
each  contestant,  countersigned  by  the  parent  or  teacher  and  filed  as  part  of 
the  exhibit. 

5.  Each  contestant  shall  be  allowed  but  one  exhibit  or  entry  in  a  contest. 


6.  In  each  school  or  district  contest,  only  that  variety  of  bean  shall  be 
grown  that  experience  has  shown  to  be  the  best  adapted  to  the  soil  and  climatic 
conditions   of  that   section. 

"7.     In  a  county  or  general  contest  when  two  or  more  varieties  are  entered, 
all  of  the  exhibits  of  a  given  variety  shall  be  judged  in  a  class  by  themselves. 

8.  All  contest  exhibits  shall  be  judged  by  means  of  a  score  card  (see 
suggestive  score  card  on  page  6,  this  circular).  The  same  score  card  may 
be  used  for  judging  both  the  local  and  general  exhibits,  excepting  that  in  the 
last  named,  only  the  shelled  beans  shall  be  exhibited.  The  record  books  of 
prize  winning  contestants  in  local  contests  should  be  supplemented  with  a 
memorandum  by  the  judge  of  the  local  contests,  stating  the  actual  number  of 
pods  and  beans  found  on  the  prize  winning  vines. 

9.  Before  contestants  shall  receive  the  Certificate  of  Merit,  they  must  mail 
their  record  sheets  or  note  books,  containing  all  the  information  specified  in 
the  Crop  Record  Plan  on  page  6,  to  the  Dean,  College  of  Agriculture,  University 
of  California,  Berkeley. 

10.  The  advisory  committee  in  charge  of  each  local  club  contest  shall  make 
all  arrangements  for  the  exhibition  that  will  mark  the  close  of  the  contest, 
and  for  procuring  and  awarding  of  prizes.  After  the  exhibits  have  been  scored, 
the  beans  on  the  prize  winning  vines,  which  are  to  be  picked  off  and  shelled  by 
the  judge  or  some  other  disinterested  party,  are  to  be  placed  in  a  suitable  con- 
tainer, together  with  the  contestant  "s  record  sheet,  and,  after  being  securely 
sealed,  mailed  to  the  city  or  county  superintendent  of  schools  in  charge  of  the 
general  contest. 

11.  All  exhibits  are  to  be  the  property  of  the  contestants  at  the  close  of 
the  exhibition  unless  the  advisory  committee  rules  otherwise.  It  is  suggested 
that  all  of  the  beans  produced  by  the  vines  placed  upon  exhibition  be  saved 
by  the  contestants  in  order  to  plant  a  special  bean  improvement  plot  another 
year. 

12.  These  regulations,  insofar  as  they  apply  to  any  local  or  general  contest, 
may  be  modified  or  changed  at  the  discretion  of  the  committee  in  charge. 

GENERAL  DIRECTIONS  FOR  GROWING  BEANS 
On  account  of  the  diversity  of  conditions  under  which  beans  are  grown 
in  California,  it  is  impossible  to  give  complete  directions  within  the  limts  of 
this  circular,  for  growing  the  crop  in  the  various  localities.  Contestants  are 
advised  to  consult  Wickson's  ''California  Vegetables"  and  Sevey's  ''Bean 
Culture,"  which  give  more  complete  directions  for  growing  beans.  One  of  these 
books  can  be  found  in  nearly  every  school  or  public  library.  Bulletin  No.  224, 
California  Experiment  Station  on  Lima  Bean  Growing  and  Improvement,  which 
can  be  obtained  free  by  addressing  the  Director,  Agricultural  Experiment 
Station,  University  of  California,  Berkeley,  gives  complete  directions  for 
growing  this  variety.  It  is  suggested  that  these  books  and  the  bulletin  be 
studied  and  discussed  in  connection  with  this  circular  at  the  club  meetings. 
Influence  of  Climate.  Severity  of  climate,  more  than  any  other  factor  of 
environment,  limits  the  production  of  beans.  This  is  especially  true  of  the 
Lima  and  the  area  in  which  this  variety  can  be  grown  commercially  is  confined 
to  the  coast  sections  of  three  or  four  counties  in  southern  California.  Here 
the  ocean  breezes,  fogs  and  mists  provide  the  favorable  atmospheric  conditions 
necessary  for  Lima  bean  growth,  conditions  denied  the  inland  portions  of  these 
same  counties  and  the  great  interior  valleys  by  the  mountains  which  shut  out 


the  moisture-laden  ocean  winds  and  prevent  the  tempering  of  the  hot  dry- 
weather  so  fatal  to  Lima  bean  development.  On  'the  moist  or  irrigated  lands 
of  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  valleys,  however,  as  well  as  in  other 
sections  of  the  State,  the  heat  and  atmospheric  aridity  are  tempered  by  the 
evaporating  soil  moisture  to  the  extent  that  other  varieties  of  beans  can  be 
grown. 

Everything  considered,  the  following  rather  exacting  conditions  have  to  be 
met  in  successful,  commercial  bean  culture.*  During  the  growing  period  of  the 
plant,  there  must  be  no  frost;  the  least  possible  duration  of  hot  dry  winds; 
plenty  of  moisture  in  the  air  (relative  high  humidity) ;  plenty  of  soil  (capillary) 
moisture  to  maintain  a  vigorous,  vegetative  development,  and  finally,  a  dry 
soil  and  no  rains  during  the  ripening  period. 

Selection  of  the  Soil.  Beans  can  be  grown  on  soils  ranging  from  sandy  to 
adobe,  but  the  lighter  and  warmer  soils  are  most  desirable,  especially  when 
the  growing  season  is  short,  as  it  takes  the  vines  longer  to  mature  on  the  heavier 
or  wet  soils.  Almost  any  good  garden  soil  will  do  for  growing  beans  in  this 
contest,  providing  good  cultivation  is  given  and  the  ground  is  kept  from  baking 
and   drying  out. 

Varieties  to  Plant.  In  the  Lima  growing  sections,  only  that  type  of  running 
bean  should  be  planted  which  experience  has  shown  to  be  most  desirable.  In 
the  other  bean  growing  sections,  only  that  variety  should  be  grown  which  has 
been  found  to  be  most  profitable  in  field  culture.  The  large  White  or  Lady 
Washington  bean  is  grown  chiefly  in  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin  valleys, 
although  it  does  well  in  the  interior  of  some  of  the  coast  counties.  The  Pink 
and  Black-eye  varieties  are  the  best  to  grow  where  conditions  of  heat  and 
drouth  prevail.  The  small  White  or  Navy  bean,  which  is  used  in  making  the 
"canned  beans"  of  commerce,  is  grown  chiefly  in  the  central  coast  counties. 
The  Bayo,  a  brown  bean,  is  grown  mainly  in  the  Sacramento  and  San  Joaquin 
valleys. 

Preparation  of  the  Soil.  Thoroughness  of  seed-bed  preparation  is  the  most 
important  factor  in  the  culture  of  beans  and  much  more  cultivation  should  be 
given  the  soil  before  planting,  than  after.  Plow  or  spade  the  soil  in  the  fall 
or  early  winter  so  that  the  surface  layer  will  be  in  a  position  to  absorb  and 
hold  all  of  the  winter  rains  that  fall.  The  surface  should  be  stirred  between 
rains  so  as  to  conserve  the  moisture  that  has  fallen.  After  most  of  the  rains 
are  over,  the  ground  should  again  be  thoroughly  plowed,  spaded,  or  cultivated 
with  a  chisel-toothed  cultivator.  After  this  until  planting  time,  the  field  or 
plot  should  be  cultivated  four  or  five  times  in  order  to  maintain  a  surface 
mulch,  which  will  check  evaporation,  keep  down  the  weeds,  compact  the  lower 
soil  layers  and  leave  a  loose  mellow  seed-bed. 

When  to  Plant.  Beans  should  not  be  planted  until  the  ground  is  warm  and 
in  good  physical  condition.  This  will  usually  be  from  May  1st  to  15th  on  the  coast, 
May  1st  to  June  1st  in  the  interior  valleys.  Seeds  planted  in  a  cold,  damp 
soil  are  apt  to  rot  before  they  can  germinate  or  if  they  do  start  to  grow  they 
will  produce  stunted  vines  that  cannot  mature  a  full  crop  of  beans.  Limas 
should  be  planted  in  a  warm,  moist  soil  and  it  may  be  necessary  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  a  few  warm  days  in  order  to  get  these  conditions. 

Planting.  The  distance  between  rows  and  between  plants  in  each  row 
depends  upon  the  variety,  the  s^il,  and  whether  or  not  irrigation  is  going  to  be 
practiced.     For  Limas,  the  distance  ranges  from  thirty  to  forty  inches  between 


*  Wickson,  ''California  Vegetables." 


the  rows  and  from  eight  to  twelve  inches  in  the  row.  The  other  varieties  are 
planted  from  twenty-four  to  thirty  inches  apart  between  rows  and  four  to 
eight  inches  in  the  rows.  On  heavy  moist  soils  and  when  irrigation  is  used, 
the  wider  distances  should  be  used  between  rows  and  hills.  Also,  those 
varieties  which  normally  produce  large  vines  should  have  a  wider  distance 
between  hills  than  varieties  producing  small  vines.  A  seed  drill  should  be  used 
for  planting  whenever  possible  as  it  insures  the  seed  being  placed  in  and  covered 
with  moist  soil.  On  small  plots  where  it  is  necessary  to  plant  by  hand,  club 
members  should  be  careful  to  see  that  the  seeds  are  surrounded  with  moist  soil. 
One  to  two  inches  is  the  depth  to  plant,  dry  soils  requiring  the  greater  depth. 

Cultivatio7i.  The  Lima  bean  vines  should  be  cultivated  three  or  four  times 
before  they  begin  to  run.  A  cultivator  having  knife-shaped  teeth  is  the  most 
efficient  implement  to  use  as  it  keeps  weeds  down  and  mulches  the  soil  better 
than  the  straight-toothed  cultivator.  Cultivation  will  have  to  be  continued 
longer  when  the  bush  varieties  are  grown  as  the  vines  will  not  shade  the 
ground  and  consequently  check  evaporation  so  much  as  do  the  running  beans. 

Irrigation.  While  it  is  said  that  the  Lima  beans  grown  along  the  coast  will 
often  ' '  make  a  crop  out  of  a  fog, ' '  irrigation  will  often  double  the  yield 
both  there  and  in  the.  interior  valleys.  .  The  easiest  way  to  apply  water  to 
beans  is  to  run  it  in  deep  furrows  between  the  rows.  Usually  one  irrigation 
will  be  enough.  In  the  case  of  Limas,  the  water  should  be  applied  just  before 
the  last  cultivation.  lrriga!:ion  should  always  be  followed  by  cultivation  just 
as  soon  as  possible  so  as  to  check  evaporation  and  leave  the  surface  soil  well 
mulched. 

Harvesting.  Beans  grown  on  light  or  unirrigated  soils  will  ripen  two  or 
three  weeks  earlier  than  on  heavier  or  irrigated  land.  Usually  the  Lima  crop 
must  be  gathered  before  all  the  beans  have  ripened,  because  of  the  shelling  of 
the  early  maturing  pods  and  the  danger  of  rain.  The  bush  varieties  ripen  more 
evenly  and  are  earlier  in  maturing.  The  vines  are  usually  cut  with  the  special 
bean  harvester,  but  on  small  plots  may  have  to  be  pulled  by  hand. 

Bean  Improvement.  The  selection  of  the  best  individual  plants  in  the  field 
is  the  most  practical  and  satisfactory  way  of  securing  a  better  yielding  strain  of 
beans.  The  first  selection  should  be  made  at  blossoming  time,  when  the  most 
vigorous,  early  flowering  plants  will  be  noted  and  perhaps  marked  with  a 
stake.  Frequent  inspection  of  the  vines  should  be  made  until  harvest  time. 
Limas  especially  will  be  found  to  differ  in  rankness  and  vigor  of  growth;  some 
are  heavily  podded  while  others  produce  but  few  pods;  many  vines  will  be 
green  and  possibly  in  full  blossom  while  others  will  have  matured  their  crop 
and  are  drying  up;  some  have  withstood  a  bad  season  or  an  alkali  soil  better 
than  the  rest  and  still  others  differ  in  the  size  and  color  of  the  seed.  All  of 
these  differences  must  be  considered  by  the  bean  grower  because  the  natural 
law  of  heredity  will  tend  to  perpetuate  these  individual  differences  in  the 
offspring.  It  may  require  considerable  thinking  before  club  members  can 
decide  which  plants  will  be  the  best  to  save  to  furnish  seed  for  next  year's 
planting.  One  thing  that  will  probably  be  noticed  is  that  the  earliest  maturing 
vines  are  not  apt  to  be  the  heaviest  yielding  ones,  as  earliness  and  prolificness 
seem  to  be  two  conflicting  characters.  Contestants  growing  Lima  beans  should 
look  for  the  heaviest  yielding  vines  and  save  that  one  which  has  produced  the 
greatest  number  of  matured  pods. 

The  seed  from  the  highest-yielding  vines  should  be  saved  and  used  to  plant 
a  special  seed-improvement  plot  next  year.     The  best  vines  grown  on  this  plot 


8 

and  improving  the  quality  by  selecting  the  most  i)rolific  vines  and  saving  the 
seed  to  plant  special  bean  improvement  plats  another  year.  Incidentally,  the 
members  of  this  club  will  strive  to  learn  all  they  can  regarding  the  science  of  soils 
and  plant  growth  and  put  this  knowledge  to  practical  use  growing  our  beans. 

Article  III.  MemhersMp.  Any  boy  or  girl  in  this  school  district,  not  over 
eighteen  or  under  eight  years  of  age,  is  eligible  for  membership  in  this  club. 
Any  adult  person,  interested  in  the  club  and  its  work,  may  be  elected  to 
honorary  membership  by  a  majority  vote  of  those  members  present  at  any 
regular  meeting. 

Article  IV.  Officers.  The  officers  of  this  organization  shall  consist  of  a 
President,  Vice-President  and  Secretary  and  an  Advisory  Committee,  consisting 
of  the  principal  or  teacher  in  the  school,  who  shall  act  as  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee, the  President  of  the  club  and  one  or  more  adults  in  the  community  not  con- 
nected directly  with  the  school,  but  who  are  interested  in  the  club  and  its  work. 

Article  V.  Duties  of  Members.  In  addition  to  the  duties  prescribed  in  the 
rules,  each  member  of  the  club  shall  attend  all  regular  meetings  and  perform 
such  duties  as  may  be  assigned  to  him.  Each  member  obligates  himself  to  read 
and  partake  in  the  discussion  of  all  books,  bulletins  and  articles  pertaining  to 
bean  growing,  considered  by  the  club. 

Article  VI  Duties  of  Officers.  The  President  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  and 
perform  those  duties  that  usually  devolve  upon  such  an  officer. 

The  Vice-President,  in  the  absence  or  disability  of  the  President,  shall  act 
as  the  presiding  officer. 

The  Secretary  shall  keep  minutes  of  all  meetings  and  shall  submit  a  report 
at  the  end  of  the  contest  to  the  City  or  County  Superintendent  of  Schools, 
describing  the  club  and  its  work  and  the  results  of  the  contest. 

The  Advisory  Committee  shall  arrange  for  all  public  contests  and  exhibits, 
the  procuring  and  awarding  of  prizes  and  certificates,  the  sending  of  letters  and 
circulars  of  information,  advise  the  club  members  with  regard  to  their  work, 
assist  in  arranging  the  club  programmes  and  meetings,  and  keep  the  general 
public  duly  informed  of  the  progress  of  the  club 's  work.  The  chairman  of 
the  Advisory  Committee  shall  have  general  oversight  and  direction  of  the  club 
and  shall  exercise  authority  in  all  cases  not  otherwise  delegated. 

Article  VII.  Begular  Meetings.  Eegular  meetings  of  the  club  shall  be  held 
on  the  first  and  third  Friday  of  each  month  during  the  school  year  (or  any 
other  time  desired).  At  least  one  meeting  a  month  should  be  held  during 
vacation  (the  time  and  date  to  be  determined  by  the  Advisory  Committee). 
The  purpose  of  these  meetings  should  be  the  systematic  study  of  books,  bulletins 
and  articles  on  bean  growing  and  the  discussion  of  those  factors  in  the  environ- 
ment of  plants  that  have  direct  bearing  upon  bean  culture.  It  will  be  possible 
for  the  teacher  in  these  meetings  to  have  the  members  perform  simple  exercises 
with  seeds,  growing  plants,  and  soils,  or  to  demonstrate  these  before  the  club, 
thus  vitally  connecting  the  school  work  with  the  outdoor  and  home  work. 

The  First  Work.  After  the  constitution  has  been  adopted  and  the  officers 
elected,  the  next  step  will  be  to  determine  the  nature  of  the  work  to  be  under- 
taken first.  If  the  club  is  started  in  the  winter  months,  a  .study  of  some  of  the 
books,  bulletins  and  articles  on  bean  growing  would  be  taken  up.  This  should 
lead  to  something  definite  to  be  done  in  the  spring  and  summer.  After  actual 
work  is  started,  the  seasonal  sequence  of  cultural  operations  will  determine  to 
a  large  extent  the  nature  of  the  discussion  at  the  regular  meetings. 


